. >> cesar chavez, this is the main artery of east l.a. one of the most active and vibrant streets in all of los angeles. >> reporter: it's no accident that director chris weitz chose these streets for his film "a better life." tens of thousands of imgrants now call this area home. >> this country is a land of dreams. it can be a hard place. a cool place. >> reporter: in the film, a mexican gardener lives quietly and illegally in los angeles, until his truck is stolen. carrying away his dream of a brighter future for his son. >> i don't know what's going to happen to us. >> it's based on a true story. one of our producers had a friend whose gardener had his truck stolen. the friend said, we've got to go to the police, and the gardener said, you don't understand, i can't go to the police. >> if you're looking down to santiago -- >> reporter: committed to an authentic look and feel, weitz hired a mexican actor largely unknown in the u.s., along with new immigrants, to help him understanded struggles of undocumented workers. >> action! >> i'v